Crime, Gender, and “Lady Macbeth”

Crime, Gender, and “Lady Macbeth”

Nikolai Leskov, 1831-1895

Nikolai Leskov, 1831-1895

• Born near Orel, hereditary links to three estates: clergy, merchants, and gentry

• Journalist, writer ethnographer, investigated illegal schools in Old Believer communities for govt in 1863

• Political pariah: estranged from radicals in 1860s and from conservatives in 1870s

• Religious seeker, embraced first radical Protestantism, then Tolstoianism

• Born near Orel, hereditary links to three estates: clergy, merchants, and gentry

• Journalist, writer ethnographer, investigated illegal schools in Old Believer communities for govt in 1863

• Political pariah: estranged from radicals in 1860s and from conservatives in 1870s

• Religious seeker, embraced first radical Protestantism, then Tolstoianism

“Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,” 1865

“Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,” 1865

• Striking for realistic portrayal of different milieus -- merchant, peasant, and penal colony

• Striking for realistic and unbuttoned portrayal of sexual desire

• Striking for stylistic and narrative devices: symbolic natural scenery, use of dream, fairy tale structure

• Striking for realistic portrayal of different milieus -- merchant, peasant, and penal colony

• Striking for realistic and unbuttoned portrayal of sexual desire

• Striking for stylistic and narrative devices: symbolic natural scenery, use of dream, fairy tale structure

Discussion Questions for “Lady Macbeth”

Discussion Questions for “Lady Macbeth”

• Consider “Lady Macbeth” in light of Engelstein’s discussion of crime and power in the domestic sphere. How does Leskov’s portrayal of Katerina and her circumstances compare with the views cited in Engelstein?

• Why do Katerina and Sergei commit the crimes they do? Who is to blame? Is the narrator sympathetic to the criminal pair?

• How do you explain the way that Sergei and Katerina’s relationship develops at the end of the story? Compare “Lady Macbeth” to “Poor Liza.”

• Consider “Lady Macbeth” in light of Engelstein’s discussion of crime and power in the domestic sphere. How does Leskov’s portrayal of Katerina and her circumstances compare with the views cited in Engelstein?

• Why do Katerina and Sergei commit the crimes they do? Who is to blame? Is the narrator sympathetic to the criminal pair?

• How do you explain the way that Sergei and Katerina’s relationship develops at the end of the story? Compare “Lady Macbeth” to “Poor Liza.”